WS Chronicle

Submitted photo

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

THE CHRONICLE

Josh Howard, former NBA All-Star and Piedmont International University (PIU) head coach, is not only making his presence felt on the sidelines but also in the community.  Howard recently met with children from Kimberly Park Elementary.  The students were a part of a program called Young Men of Honor.

The students were given some life lessons and personal advise from Howard in the gymnasium. They were also treated to a basketball game where the PIU Bruins defeated Johnson University.

“This was an awesome opportunity for Kimberly Park Elementary students to meet former NBA All-Star and Winston-Salem native Josh Howard,” said Juwon Crowell, physical education coach at Kimberly Park.  “The Kimberly Park Elementary students were so excited to be a part of and help the Bruins win on Friday [Feb. 3].”

“For a lot of our students, they are against a lot of household challenges and have to overcome lots of demographic barriers. Due to the transparency and humbleness of Josh Howard and the Piedmont International University staff, they made the connection and that life changing experience happen for Kimberly Park Elementary scholars.”

Young Men of Honor is in place to teach leadership, self-respect, integrity, thinking and speaking positive, student first and athlete second, focusing and overall life skills.

The director of Special Projects at Piedmont International University added, “Thank you so much for honoring us by awarding your ‘Men of Honor’ with a game at Piedmont International University. We were delighted to have you here cheering for our team. I would have to say our Bruins put on quite a show for you and delivered an impressive win.”

The young men from Kimberly Park were also invited to watch the Bruins next game that was streamed through the schools website.